What You Will Need:

Ceramic Bisque Tiles (White)
(Cre8it or ceramic supply store)

Decor It Ink (Ranger): Periwinkle, Yellow, Terra Cotta, Mahogany, White, and Cranberry (we got ours online at www.addictedtorubber.com)

Make-Up Sponges

Styrofoam Plates

Adirondack Rainbow Dye Inkpads: Cabin Fever, Stained Glass, Wild Flowers (Ranger - we got ours at Hobby Lobby, but there are many online sources)

Alcohol, Spray Bottle

Texture Pack (Cre8it)

Wet cloth in container
These are a few of the wonderful looks you can achieve with this technique. These look just like some of the most expensive Italian tiles on the market.
Painting the Tiles:
Ceramic tiles invariably have dust on them, so the first step is to wipe them off with a dry terrycloth rag.

Pour a small amount of Decor It onto a styrofoam plate and lay the tile on another plate. Use a make-up sponge to apply the ink over the front and sides of the tile. Let dry thoroughly.

Note: If you are using Cre8it bisque tiles, they have two smooth, finished sides. If you want to be safe, you can paint the second side also - after the first is dry. Then, if you don’t get a dye job you like, you can do it over on the back.

Color Recipes for the tiles shown: Mix by eye, start with the first color and add the others on the list until the results please you :
Blue: Periwinkle
Burgundy: Cranberry + Periwinkle + White
Adobe: Yellow + Terra Cotta + Mahogany + White
Buttercream: Adobe + More White

Applying the Dye:
Spray the surface of the painted tile with alcohol and let it soak in but don’t let it dry.

Using the Pebbled Packing Foam from the Texture Pack (or you may have a piece at home), dab colors from the Adirondack Rainbow pad all over your tile. You should be able to see it sink in as you watch, giving an interesting mottled look to the tile.

Here is where the procedure becomes a random one. You can play with this until you have built up an affect you like. You can blot on more color, spray more alcohol, and/or add water by tapping the packing foam on a wet cloth and then on the tile. Every step will have interesting results and change the look of your tile. The trick is going to be to know when to stop.

We used the Cabin Fever Ink Pad on the Adobe Tile, and Stained Glass and Wildflower on the Burgundy, Periwinkle, and Buttercream tiles. These rainbow pads combine the following Ranger colors:

Cabin Fever: Butterscotch, Ginger, Raisin, and Pesto

Stained Glass: Cranberry, Eggplant, Denim, Bottle

Wild Flower: Butterscotch, Cranberry, Denim, Bottle

When your ceramic tiles are dry, they are ready for the polymer tiles that will top them off.
Materials for the dye application include flexible pebbled packing foam for use as the applicator. If you don’t happen to have any at home or work, a piece is included in the Texture Pack from Cre8it.
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